Securing device.



s. B. DUNN. sEcuRlNG DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24,1915.

. ,Q21 Patented Apr. 3,1917.

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soLA n. DUNN, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SECURING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 3, 1917.

Application filed July 24, 1915. Serial No. 41,764.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, SOLA Bj DUNN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SecuringDevices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a securing device by means of which an adjustable connection may readily be formed with an object to be secured or to be used as a support for another object.

The invention comprises a flexible member capable of being bent into a loop and said member is provided with engaging means adapted to form a slidingvengagement with the body of the member. In the preferred form, the engaging means forms a detachable sliding connection with the body of the member. A further feature of the invention relates to the provision of novel engaging means whereby the device may be readily attached to or detached from the object to be secured.

My invention is peculiarly adapted for use as a hopple, such as is employed in connection with casting harnesses and other devices which are used in connection with horses and other animals.

While certain features and objects have been referred to generally above,`it will be understood that these and other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which the invention is illustrated. In the drawings;

Figure 1 shows my improved securing device embodied in a casting harness which is assembled on a horse;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the sel curing device proper, illustrating the preferred form of my invention; and

Fig. 3 shows a plan view of a modified form of engaging means which may be substituted for that shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the casting harness comprises a surcingle 10 which is adjustedfto tightly fit the body of the horse just back of its shoulders and a shoulder strap 11 which is united with the surcingle 10 by means of the ring 12. A rope or cable 13 is attached at the end 111 to the ring 12 and the intermediate ortion of the rope is passed through a pu ley 15 which is also attached to the ring 12. The portion of the rope orcable 13 between the end 111- and the pulley 15 forms a loop which is connected with my improved securing device.

This securing device, in the embodiment illustrated, comprises a flexible band 16 which is preferably formed of two strips of leather which are unitedfby seams 17, or the like. Theloop at one end of the band 16 forms a pivotal connection with the ring 18 and the ring 18 is in turn connected with the apertured member 19 commonly called a D-member, which is preferably provided with a roller 20, as shown inthe drawings. The member 19 is engaged by the looped portion of the rope 18, as shown'in Fig. 1. The end of the flexible band 16 opposite the ring 18 is looped, as shown in the drawings, to form a pivotal connection with the engageable member 21 which is preferably of spiral form, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The engageable member 21 is adapted to form a sliding engagement with the body of the flexible member 16 so that when a pull is exerted on the Iend of said member adjacent the ring 18, the looped band 16 will contract and tightly engage the object to be secured, such as the rear leg of the horse, as illustrated in Fig. 1. A leather sheath 23 is secured to the band 16 adjacent the engageable member 21 and is curved inwardly opposite the engageable member 21, so as to protect the horses leg or other object froml the metallic engageable member and in order to effect a tighter gripping of said object.

In practice, the flexible band 16 may be placed arcund'the leg of the horse, just above its hoof and the end of the band threaded through the engageable member 21 after which the rope 13 may be threaded through the D-member 19 and through the pulley 15. When a pull is then exerted on the rope 13 the band 16 will slide through the engageable member 21 andthe band Will tightly grip the leg of the horse. Upon further pulling the rope 13 the leg of the horse will be drawn toward the pulley 15 thereby rendering the animal substantially helpless while a surgical operation is being performed or other treatment being given. It will be understood, of course, that the casting harness may include means for attaching one of my improved securing devices to each leg of the horse in order to more e'ectuallyrsecure the animal against movement.

The great advantage of the engageable member 21 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is that it is unnecessary to thread the body of the band 16 through the same in the manner just described, for the reason that the spiral form vof this engageable member makes it possible togive the band 16 a'twisting movement and thus thread. the band on to the engageable member, as will be apparent from an inspection of the drawings. This makes it possible to very quickly attach or detach the securing device without the necessity of threading or unthreading the rope or cable 13 through the members 15 and 19. The band 16 is preferably constructed of strips of leather which are relatively thick and which have a considerable resiliency so that when the tension on the rope 13 is withdrawn, the band 16 will automatically eX- pand and release its grip upon the leg of the animal or othervobject beingI secured. rI`he band 16 may be constructed of other materials, if desired.

As a modification of the engageable member shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I have illustrated in Fig. 3 an engageable member 2].a which is in the form oi a ring and which is attached to the band 16a, as shown. This kmodified form of engageable member 21a is adapted for use where it is desired to form an adjustable sliding connection without the advantages oi' ready attachment and detach-` ment, as previously described.

It Vwill be observed that my improved securing device has numerous advantages, in that it may be readily attached to or detached from an object to be secured, is adjustable to an object of substantially any size, and is expansible upon being released. My improved engageable member permits a wide range of adjustability and provides a stronger and more durable construction than buckles, snaps and other appliances.

It will be understood that my invention i may partake of various other Jforms than those herein illustrated, and thatY it may be adapted to various uses without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a hopple, a flexible element, a spiral member secured to one end of said element and adapted' to engage it detachably between its ends to form a sliding engagement therewith, a relatively fixed support, and connections between said support and the other end of said flexible element opposite said spiral member.

2. In a casting harness, a leather strap, a spiral metal member secured to one end of said strap and adapted to engage it detachably between its ends to form a sliding engagement therewith, a relatively fixed support, and adjustable means for drawing said strap and the parts secured thereby toward said relatively xed support.

3. In a casting harness, a relatively fixed support, a band adapted to be looped around an object to be secured, an engageable member secured to one end of said band and arranged to form a sliding engagement with the body of said band at any desired point between its ends, and means engaging the end of said band opposite said engageable member for adjusting the position of said band and the object secured thereby with respect to said relatively Xed support.

4. In a casting harness, a surcingle adapted to extend around the body of a horse, a shoulder strap adapted to be connected at its ends to said surcingle, a strap adapted to extend around a leg of said horse, a spiral engageable member secure to one end of said strap and adapted to detachably engage and form a sliding engagement with an intermediate part of the strap, a sheath secured to said strap and located inwardly of said engageable member, and cable and pulley connections between said surcingle and the end of said strap opposite said engageable member.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

SOLA B. DUNN.

copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, I). C. 

